Antiseptic instrument-case.



E. A.. TEBTS & H. v. VARNBR. ANTISEPTIG INSTRUMENT CASE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1910.

1,016,529. Palteted Feb. 6,1912.

t INVENT R wrrNEssEs M Q Zu/27012 EARL A..TEBTS .AND HARVEY V. VLBNER,0F CLABKSBBG, -WKEST.'lTIIIIyGfINIA annsnr'nc ms'rmmN'r-cnsn.

. speeiaemen of Letten remt.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

To all lwhom'z't may concern.'

Be it known that we,'EaRL A. Tnnrs and HARVEY V. VARNER, residents ofClarksbur in the count of Harrison and State of est Virginia, aveinvented anew and `useful Improvement in Antiseptic yInstrument-Cases,of 'which the following is a. specification.4

This invention relates to a case for clinical thermometers and otherinstruments,and the purpose is to provide a case in which suchinstruments can be conveniently and safel stored and carried in thepocket and whic will render and maintain the same antiseptic. i

The invention comprises'the construction and arran ement of partshereinafter described an claimed. t

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 1s a vertical sectlon 'through thepreferred form of the device; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through amodified form of the device.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the thermometer or other instrument 1 iscontained in a tube 2 formed of glass or other suitable vitreousmaterial closed atv its bottom 3 and open at the top. This glass orsimilar tube is contained within an outer casing 4 of lso metal or othersuitable material to .act as a protection. The closure at the top 1seffectl ed by means of a cap or cover 5, having a threaded connection at6 with the upper end of the metal tube 4, and beino' provided on itsinner face with a suitable cushionv or packing-washer 7 adapted when thecover is screwed down to bear against the upper end of the glass tube,said glass tube projectin slightly above the upper end of the meta tubefor this purpose. For convenience in screwing on and unscrewing thecover the latter is provided with a knurled rim 84 preferably below itsupper end, so as to have a portion projecting above said knurled rim toassist in properly holding and guiding the cover when screwing it ontoor off the tube. In the bottom of the tube is a light helical spring 10adapted to form a yielding or cushion support for the lower end of thein-i strument and also to lift said instrumentf when the cover is takenoff so as to project its upper end above the upper end of t e tube inorder that the same may be readil grasped to withdraw the instrumentfrorii the tube. A seatfor the thermometers or other instruments isformed by means of la Application led September 88, 1910. Serial lo.583,780.

table 11, which preferably is cupped and madeof considerable depth, asshown, so as to guide the table 11 and prevent the same from binding inthe tube. This cup preferably is perforated, as shown, in ord r to ermitthe antiseptic-liquid, such as' lcoho ,to freely pass therethrough.Preferabl one slde of the metal tube 4 is cut away near t e upper end toprovide the window l3.through which the instruments can be viewed, andthrough which it can be ascertained without opening the tube whetherthere is any antlseptic liquid therein. A small hole 14 is in the bottomof the outer tube to permit any alcohol which iets between the inner andouter tubes to lea out. A rubber or other cushion 15 is also preferablyplaced between the bottoms of the inner and outer tubes.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 is of simpler construction, theinterior lass tube being omitted and the outer meta tube beingcontinuous or unprovided with the win'- dow 13. In other particulars itis the same as the main modication. e

In using the device the tube is partly filled with an antiseptic liquidsuch as alcohol,I l.

and the thermometers or other instruments are inserted into the same,resting upon the table 11. The cover 5 is then screwed onto the upperend of the tube until its cushion or gasket 7 is pressed firmly againstthe upper end of the tube, thereby making a practically hermetical sealat the upper end.

The act of screwing the cover down depresses thepinstrunient, lowers thetable 11,` and compresses spring 10, so that when closed the instrumentsare held between the cushion or gasket 7 in the cover and the yieldingseat or table 11. When the cover is unscrewed spring' 10 expands,thereby liftthe instrument so that its upper end proi )e t s above thetube and can be readily grasped for removal. i

Obviously the case may be made of any size or dimension and ada ted tohold one or any desired number o instruments or implements. By alteringthe size and shape of the case any desired implements may be providedfor. In lieu of a glass tube we may use a thin porcelain tube or aninner tube .of other material.

-tube being permanently closed at its lower end and of greater depththan the inand depress the same to compress the spring.

' 2. An 'antiseptic instrument case comprising a tube formed ofimpervious material which can vbe antiseptically treated, said tubebeing permanently closed at its lower end and ,of greater depth than theinstrument to be received, a perforated cup-shaped support for theinstrument in the bottom of the tube, a coiled spring pressing upwardlyon said Support and of 'such length as to lift thel instrument toproject above the upper end of the tube, 'and a cover threaded onto theupper end of the tube, sealing the same, and beingindependent of theinstrument and arranged to engage thel upper end thereof and depress thesame to compress the spring.

3. An antiseptic instrument case, comprising a-non-frangible outer tubeand a vltreous inner tube, both open at their upper ends and closed attheir inner ends and of greater depth than the instrument to bereceived, a support for the instrument in the bottom of the inner tube,a coiled spring presslng upwardly on said support and of such length asto lift the instrument to projectabove the upper ends of said tubes, anda cover engaging the upper end of the outer tube, pressing against andSealin the upper en'd of the inner tube, and independent of ytheinstrument and arranged to engage the upper end thereof and depress thesame to compress the spring.

4. An antiseptic instrument case comprising a glass tube permanentlyclosed at its lower end and open at its upper end and of greater depththan the instrument to be received, a non-frangible outer protectingcasing inclosing said glass tube, and provided with a side openingtherethrough, said inner tube projecting slightly above the upper end ofsaid outer tube, a support for the instrument in the bottom of the innertube, a coiled spring pressing upwardly n said support and of suchlength as to liftJ` the instrument to project above the upper ends ofsaid tubes, and a cover engaging the upper end of the outer tube,pressing against and sealing the upper end of the inner tube andindependent of the instrument and arranged to engage the upper endthereof and depress the`same to compress the spring.

vln testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

EARL A. TEETS. HARVEY V. VARNER. Witnesses as to Earl A. Teets:

F. W. WINTER, JAS. L. WELDON. Witnesses as to Harvey V. Varner:

EDNA McCoNNELL, FILMonE C. DEvERIcKs.

